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Have you ever sent a message on
WhatsApp and instantly noticed an error or typo and hoped for a way to edit that message before the reader spots the issue? Well, we have all been there.
Unlike iPhone’s iMessage where Apple gives users the permission to edit sent messages, WhatsApp so far doesn’t allow users to make changes to messages that have already been sent. But that’s going to change soon. We have been hearing about the tech giant working on a new update that will allow sent messages to be edited. The speculations first started making the rounds of social media platforms months ago.
But fresh speculations suggest that WhatsApp is gearing up to launch a new update that will include the feature to edit sent messages.
The Meta-owned instant messaging platform is currently working on a new update that will allow users to edit sent messages and let users correct mistakes instead of deleting the original text and sending a fresh one.
According to WABetaInfo, people will need to be on the latest version of WhatsApp to enjoy the feature. However, there will be a time restriction for editing the sent messages on WhatsApp. Users will get to edit sent messages by tapping and holding the chat bubble and then clicking on the Edit button.
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Initially, the tech giant will allow changes to be made to sent messages on the Meta-owned social networking platform for up to 15 minutes after the message was sent. It’s the same time duration that Apple offers to iPhone users for editing sent messages on iMessage. Meanwhile, Telegram allows 48 hours for changes to be made to sent messages.
Recently, the tech giant rolled out a new update which allows picture-in-picture support which allows users to browse through their phone while the video call continues through a small window on the smartphone’s display.
Telegram, Signal, Viber: All You Need To Know About The Top Alternatives To WhatsApp
Best WhatsApp alternatives
WhatsApp’s new update to its privacy policy and terms of service hasn’t gone down well with users , several of whom are now looking for better alternatives to switch to. Last week, the instant messaging giant had launched a new privacy policy stating that it will be sharing user data with parent company Facebook, and those who do not accept the updated terms by February 8, will no longer have the access to their chats.
This notification, which users across India started receiving early last week, threw people, tech experts, and cybersecurity advocates into a frenzy. Several multinational companies also started advising their employees to avoid disclosing or sharing sensitive company-related data or information on WhatsApp. These companies warned their staff against making crucial business calls on the messaging platform.
On Thursday, the Tesla CEO and world’s richest man, Elon Musk in a tweet rooted for ‘Signal’, a messaging app.
Despite WhatsApp issuing a fresh clarification on Tuesday regarding it’s changed policies, the debate on privacy continues to hover over it. Which leads us to the big question: Are there any good alternatives to WhatsApp? Well, there are several, and we’ve compiled a list of messaging services that come packed with interesting features.
Telegram
This cross-platform, cloud-based instant messaging service is the closest match to WhatsApp. Telegram, which was initially launched for iOS and Android in late 2013 by two Russian brothers – Pavel Durov and Nikolai Durov, has impressively increased its reach in the last few months. It’s a freeware service that offers video calling, VoIP, file sharing among other features. The instant messaging software can be used on both mobile platforms and desktops.
‘Secret Chat’ mode
One of the interesting features of Telegram is its ‘Secret Chat’ mode which is encrypted with its MTProto protocol. Messages sent within secret chat can only be accessed by the device through which the text was sent or received. Texts can be deleted at any time, and it can also optionally self-destruct. The secret chat can only be initiated through an invite, after which the ‘encryption keys’ for the session are exchanged between users.
Apart from this, users can also send texts, voice messages, images, documents, contacts, locations, music and many other things.
In 2020, Telegram reached over 400 million monthly active users and was the 8th most downloaded app in the world, as per the data shared by Apptopia.
Signal
This is another user-friendly app which is a cross-platform encrypted messaging service. If compared with other free instant messaging apps available in the market, Signal Messenger is believed to be the most secure one. Unlike WhatsApp and Telegram, Signal has a very simple and neat look, making the user experience for people in different age groups equally easy and friendly.
If this isn’t reason enough for you to give it a try, it is also recommended by Musk.
What is Signal?
In 2018, Moxie Marlinspike and WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton, launched Signal Messenger, an open source application. In layman’s terms, it means that any security developer can test it to find bugs or flaws. The app offers end-to-end encryption, ensuring that nobody can access or store your private chats or media.
The messaging app also allows users to set a registration lock PIN. It provides a ‘screen lock timeout’ interval as an additional protection in case the user loses the phone. As far as privacy is concerned, Signal has said that it only stores the users’ phone numbers and nothing else. It also offers a feature that disables screenshots.
But the application’s USP has to be the ‘Sealed Sender’ feature which hides the details of sender and receiver. Signal also has a feature where one can blur out faces of people in photos to protect their identities.
Viber
This is yet another instant messaging app that supports end-to-end encryption. Your messages, videos, photos, video and voice calls are protected. It is a cross-platform operated by Japanese firm MNC Rakuten, that lets you back-up your data from the app to your drive.
Just like Telegram, Viber, too, offers the disappearing messages feature. You can set a particular time and your text will disappear on its own. It also offers a ‘screenshot lock’ feature, similar to that of Signal. Viber can be accessed on iOS, Android and Windows.
How safe is your data with Viber?
Although Viber is a free app, you might see a few ads on the messaging platform. However, the company in a blog post clarified that the ads only help them keep the app free for all to use and no user data is actually shared with the advertising providers.
The messaging platform collects your device ID identifiers, location, phone number and user ID, in addition to product interaction, email ID, name and contacts.
Wire
It’s a unique messenger app created by Wire Swiss that is protected by European data retention laws. The app supports end-to-end encrypted messaging, file-sharing, video and voice calls. It also has a feature called guest rooms for external communication, where users can chat with external parties without having them register on the app. The messaging service is available for mobile, desktop and web.
Different modes
Apart from Wire Personal, which is a secure messaging platform for personal use with end-to-end encryption, Wire offers three modes based on its security technology: Wire Pro, Wire Enterprise and Wire Red.
Wire Pro offers collaboration features for businesses, Wire Enterprise also comes with the same features as Pro but with additional services for large-scale business organisations, and then we have Wire Red, the on-demand crisis collaboration suite.
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